Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: ASL in 4 weeks???
Message-ID: <18928@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 23 Apr 91 19:20:00 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
Lines: 37
Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org

Index Number: 15106

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi Roy:

 RM> Regarding which is best for you to learn, I can only say that
 RM> the choice here is not much different than the choice of any
 RM> language. If you want to communicate with French speaking
 RM> people, you learn French.  But if you want/need/intend to
 RM> communicate with people from Japan, you learn Japanese.  If you
 RM> want/need/intend to communicate primarily with persons who are
 RM> culturally Deaf, then you learn ASL.  But if you
 RM> want/need/intend to communicate primarily with late-deafened
 RM> adults, then you are probably better off with SEE (actually
 RM> Pidgin Signed English {PSE} is probably even more practical).

Thanks for posting that, Roy.  I knew we could trust the ol' Professor
to come thru with a rational responce in what has become a highly
emotional debate here.  As you know, I'm a TC advocate.  If it helps
a person communicate - use it.  I'm a bit amused by the folks on both
sides who feel that EVERYONE should be taught THEIR favorite dialect,
and who attempt to promote their favorites by denigrating other systems.

I'm reminded of a former associate (your archtypical "ugly American")
who refused to learn a single word of Italian while based in Italy
for several years.  He said it would be easier for all Italians
to learn English.  Arghhhh

Let us hear from you more often on SilentTalk.  Regards to Bonnie.
Will you be going to Denver for SHHH?

... Jack.

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org